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How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From JFK
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION24m
TRANSIT35m
EXPLORE2h 31m
RETURN35m
BUFFER25m
Recommended Itinerary
Your layover plan
Arrive & Immigration
~24 min · JFK
Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Standard US Customs & Border Protection. Average 24 min for international arrivals. Global Entry holders clear in 5-10 min via dedicated kiosks. Peak times: 8-11 AM and 3-6 PM.
Transit into the city
35 min
AirTrain (24/7, every 10-15 min) to Jamaica Station (15 min), then LIRR to Penn Station (20 min). Fastest route into Manhattan - beats taxis in almost all conditions.
Explore New York
~2h 31m of free time
Stay airside. Immigration at JFK, EWR, and LGA all average 45-90 min, leaving no safe time for the city.
JFK T5 (JetBlue): Deep Blue Sushi past security is a solid meal option
LGA Terminal B: renovated 2022, food hall includes Shake Shack and Jajaja
EWR Terminal A: Saison Market is the best airside food in Newark — fresh, fast, not overpriced
A tight but possible NYC taste. AirTrain and subway are slower than they look on the map.
From JFK: AirTrain to Jamaica + LIRR to Penn Station, 35-40 min, $14. Stick to Midtown — one meal, one sight, then back
From EWR: NJ Transit to Penn Station, 30 min, $13. Eataly Flatiron is 3 blocks from Penn — easy in-and-out
From LGA: No fast transit link — taxi to Midtown takes 25-40 min, $30-40 each way depending on traffic
Leave the city 90 min before your departure time to account for re-entry security queues
A proper NYC window. Give yourself 4-5 hours in the city and anchor around two spots.
JFK to Midtown: 35-40 min by AirTrain and LIRR, or the E train for $2.90 (slower but cheaper)
EWR to Midtown: 30 min by NJ Transit to Penn Station — puts you between Times Square and Chelsea
LGA to Midtown: 25-35 min by taxi (the Q70 bus and subway takes 50+ min — take the cab)
Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO take 75 min round-trip from Midtown — pair it with pizza in the neighbourhood
New York rewards the full day. Multiple neighbourhoods are realistic once you are on the subway.
Morning: Lower East Side or Chinatown for breakfast — cheap, crowded, and authentic
Midday: Central Park from 72nd Street down to the Bethesda Fountain, then Midtown for the energy
Afternoon: Brooklyn Bridge is 25 min from Midtown by subway — walk across and back via Brooklyn Bridge Park
Return buffer: JFK 35-40 min, EWR 30 min, LGA 30-40 min by taxi — all need 90 min before departure
Return to JFK
35 min back to airport
Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 60 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~25 min buffer before gate
Re-entry security at JFK typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat
Best eats for a layover
Short on time? Stay airside.
🍴
New York Food Walking Tour
Taste the best of the city with a local guide. Perfect for a layover.
Under 4 hours? Most city sights won't be feasible. Check the Itinerary tab for airside-only recommendations.
Practical Info
What you need to know
Currency
US Dollar ($). Cards accepted everywhere, including cabs and subway turnstiles via contactless. Skip airport exchange kiosks, use a bank ATM for cash.
Language
English. No language barrier in any transit or tourist area.
Visa
ESTA required for visa-waiver countries (UK, EU, Japan, Australia, and ~40 others) for stays up to 90 days. All other nationalities need a B1/B2 or transit visa. Verify before travel, visa rules change.
Transit
AirTrain JFK to Jamaica Station, then E train to Midtown in about 60 min total ($11.15). From EWR, NJ Transit from Newark Airport station to Penn Station in 30 min ($16.50). From LGA, the Q70 LTD bus to the 7 train reaches Midtown in 45 min ($2.90).
Weather
Humid continental, hot muggy summers and cold snowy winters. May, June, September, and October are ideal for layovers.
Tipping
Expected. 18 to 20 percent at restaurants, $1 to $2 per drink at bars, 15 to 20 percent for cabs. Servers rely on tips as most of their pay.
Emergency
911 (US universal for police, fire, and ambulance).
Time Zone
EST (UTC-5). Clocks shift to EDT (UTC-4) mid-March through early November.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
